FaxSora opened his eyes early the next morning by a force of habit. His pillow, Rikku moved from under him and she brushed his hair from his face with a gentle hand.
"Did you know you snore?" she asked with a smile. Sora forced a smile.
"No I didn't." he answered, feeling a bit embarrassed. Rikku giggled.
"Well, I didn't know either. You just sleep like you're in a coma!" she giggled at her little joke on Sora. He managed a smile until he realized that some places on his body hurt.
His smile was gone and he was reminded of the night before.
How could he be so stupid? Letting his emotions carry him away like that?
Well, Riku started it, said his other voice. Riku came up behind you with the intention of hurting you. He always wanted to hurt you and you know it. Always being better…
…But you kissed her, or didn't resist when she kissed you.
"Sora?" Rikku looked into Sora's face worried. He looked at her and realized that during this reverie, she had undone his shirt and was rubbing his chest. He blushed and sat up.
"I'm fine Rikku. I just need some air."
"You better get it quick." She advised. Sora nodded and headed out.
----
The Centigrade Crew left in the afternoon. Some of the islanders were concerned about the fight and wondered if Sora stayed too long, the Heartless would return. Kairi was worried. Until that night, no one had remembered the Heartless had even existed. That full year seemed to be a dream vaguely remembered, but one no one wanted to remember.
The 'old gang' was gathered at the shore, watching the Centigrade Crew disappear aboard the AirShip. Even Riku was there, with his arm in his shirt in such a way that he mimicked Auron, a black eye, and other bruises. Kairi looked at Sora, smiled and waved to him. Sora gave a short wave back, trying not to look at Riku. Kairi still cared for him, even loved him, even though Riku pointed out that Rikku had entered his room that night and only left with him in the morning, but she knew Sora, he wouldn't hurt her.
Not intentionally.
----
The ship was silent. No one asked Sora about the fight, and Sora didn't offer an explanation. Auron disappeared into one of the small bedrooms while Brother manned the ship. Goofy and Donald looked out the windows, hoping to catch a glance of part of their world. Sora looked for Rikku, then realized she was right there, holding his arm and looking into his face worried. Sora smiled and pulled her close. This, he thought, felt more right than anything he had felt with Kairi. Maybe I can be happy…
"Attention KeyBlade Master! We're going to Kilika now. It's another chain of islands, but the last is so big it has a forest and a temple on it!" Brother called back to them in his thick accent. Sora smiled at each r that was pronounced 'hhrrrr' by Brother, and wondered why Rikku lacked the same accent. Then he realized that Cid didn't have the accent at all either.
"Papa wasn't around much when Brother was growing up, so he grew up with Al Bhed. I was stuck on a different world where people spoke both languages." She said quietly so her brother couldn't hear. A fleeting thought came across Sora's mind: why was her brother named Brother? Then he scolded himself for thinking about trivial things and leaned against the inner wall of the Centigrade.
"So, we're going to talk with the elders, or Leaders or whatever and hold a giant conference at the temple?" Sora asked.
"That's the plan." Brother said with a swift nod. Sora allowed a smile. It seemed that he and Brother were getting along, which was good. He and Brother needed all the friends that they could get, since the future wasn't kind nor was it easy.
----
"Here we are!" Rikku said cheerily, towing Sora behind her towards Nooj, who was standing on a boat. Kilika was an odd place—the oddest Sora has ever seen. Most of the houses were on poles in the water, not even on land, and there were walkways a bit above the water and to reach the second level of the villages. The village was split in the middle, so a small boat, like the one Nooj was standing in, could go through the village straight to the clearing that was just before the forest. Sora marveled at how the people gave up living on land and opted for living precariously over water, then wondered why.
A few minutes later after taking the tour of the village, Sora and Rikku accompanied Nooj and the boatman in the small vessel and he brought them through the water with grace and ease, even for an elderly man. Rikku giggled and stuck her finger in the water to trace the paths of various fish. Sora smiled and tried to start up a conversation with Nooj. Nooj's answers were short, curt, and short. Sora privately wondered if he wanted to keep Kilika from joining the rest of the world to reunite Spira.
Sora's thought were interrupted when the boat lightly bumped the 'dock'. Sora got out first and helped Rikku, then he moved to help Nooj. Nooj, the ever obstinate man that he was, shoves away Sora's helping hand and got out of the craft with an ease that surprised everyone. That seemed to inflate his ego as much as a grain of sand adds to the desert.
Men in armor were there to meet them with guns and helmets. They stood at attention and saluted Nooj as he approached the gate that blocked the plains and the forest.
"Master Nooj, the perimeter is secure!" said a man, dressed more formally than the rest. Sora was surpised by these men, who seemed to be barely older than him. The rest of the village seemed laid back, like the Besaid 'Destiny' Islands. Nooj nodded to the men and two led the small group, with two bringing up the rear. Sora felt the KeyBlade amulet under his shirt and wondered if part of Auron's training for him was just ahead.
The walk was uneventful. Just plain grass that was short as if animals had grazed there, and clear view of another island that was too small and not fertile enough to support life. Sora wondered if it were some sort of shrine that could be only visited for special occasions by boat. Sora shook his head of the thought. There weren't enough boats to bring people there for a ceremony, and the boat they had could barely fit four teens, or two teens, a village 'Leader' and their boatman.
By the time they reached the forest, Sora noticed that the older man began to limp. Sora looked at one of the warrior men, then to Nooj. He shrugged, as if to say it was normal for Nojo's artificial leg to start chafing after a walk. Sora pieced that this was why the red clad man had been quiet.
The forest had different paths going in different directions that seemed to be made by the passings of humans and creatures. The trees also lent themselves to the creation of the paths, since each were formed as if they were planted so that they would grow so close together that a person would have to walk through the tree-maze until they found themselves out.
"It is to prevent the temple from rioting villagers. The gate is the first precaution, then the maze. Each part of the maze has it's own gate to keep people out." Nooj explained. "There are also warriors and warrior-monks awaiting us at the temple who also protect the temple." Sora nodded in understanding. "Then there are the beasts." Sora looked at Nooj, who took a right turn along the water. As if on cue, a beautiful reddish-gold tiger with long furry antennae turned from drinking and growled at them. Sora stood, confused at why the men were aiming at the creature.
He shook his head and turned to go another way, even if it was rude, and saw a huge stone wall. His mind screamed that is wasn't a wall, but some sort of fossilized creature that was moving towards the group. It was soon joined by a DarkBall Heartless and some Green Requiems. The tiger-creature, called a Courel, turned it's head from the humans and growled a warning at the Heartless. The Heartless ignored the feline and proceeded to attack the humans. The stone creature was somehow moving slowly towards them, but the warriors were too busy trying to gun down the Requiems to notice. A man closest to the stone creature inhaled deeply, making the man turn. He screamed when he realized what the thing was as it exhaled on him. The scream lingered, making the Heartless pause to try and steal the Heart. The DarkBalls were angry and the Requiems were buzzing around with annoyance. Stone humans have no Hearts to steal. They turned on the stone creature and began to attack.
"Heeee-yah!" Sora turned as he heard Rikku yell out and knock the Courel into the water. She danced and cheered as it struggled to swim, then found shallow water and slunk away. Sora smiled and pulled out the KeyBlade amulet.
"It's time I helped." He said to himself quietly and got in his fighting stance. The stone creature had fallen, and couldn't get up after a DarkBall bounced at it hard enough to topple it over; the Requiems healed each other and looked at the humans again. Sora smiled as he felt the KeyBlade grow in his hand into it's normal size. "Strike raid" he whispered, then threw the KeyBlade at the creatures. The KeyBlade managed to eliminate some Requiems, critically damage a DarkBall, then returned to Sora's hand. Without hearing the men insisting they would help, Sora ran forward and fought the creatures that had no right to be in this world….
…and only stopped when Rikku placed a cool hand on his shoulder. Sora suddenly realized that the Heartless were pouring in after them, and Nooj was nearly a sitting duck with his Machina leg.
"I'll distract them and you get him out of here. One you are safe, call for me and I'll come."
"It's supposed to go 'if you're in danger, call me and I'll come running'." Rikku said, trying to not sound worried. Sora smiled at her and lunged into the fight. Nooj watched for a moment, interested as Sora fought the Heartless that appeared around him from thin air, then allowed himself to be ushered towards the temple.
He didn't know how long he fought, but by the time he was aware that Rikku was safe, he backed away from his attackers. He grinned while he ran from the confused Heartless. Fighting them in an enclosed space with his old weapon helped his muscles loosen up and made him feel able, energized and ready to tackle any problem.
"He makes it look like a game." A warrior muttered to his companion as he and a team ran down the temple steps to help Sora. Sora was currently fighting a soldier like he was fighting someone in a training room. He dodged, parried, sidestepped and attacked as if he were against his best friend. Oddly enough, human and Heartless seemed to enjoy this exchange. The Soldier Heartless stopped when it heard the Warriors arrive, then tilted it's head at Sora as if to say 'it was fun', then disappeared in a cloud of nothingness. The rest of the Heartless paused, then began to attack the humans after just merely watching the exchange between the Heartless and boy.
Giddy and winded, Sora rejoined Rikku and Nooj at the temple, and bowed to the priests around them.
"Just some Soldiers, DarkBalls and Requiems." Sora said, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"Just?" there was a murmur from the priest-audience.
"Those are the creatures that have killed two of my teams escorting the priests to their temple home. It seems only your weapon has any effect against them." Nooj said harshly. "Probably anyone with your weapon could fight the Heartless. What makes the KeyBlade exclusive to you?" Nooj asked, taking the KeyBlade from Sora's hand. Almost immediately, it disappeared from Nooj's hold and returned itself into Sora's hand.
"It chooses me." He said. "And it can change its mind. It has once, then it came back to me." Nooj and the priests merely stared at Sora. "I have the strength enough to fight the Heartless, and I believe I have the strength to reunite Spira." Nooj looked as if Sora said the key phrase. He turned to the monks and warriors.
"Prepare the festivities; our world will be whole again!" Nooj's voice was loud, deep and powerful. Although he was solemn, he managed to excite young priests and priestesses and warriors. The priests merely smiled and nodded. Rikku ran to Sora and collided into him with a hug.
"It was so easy! Now all the islands are together and we can start bringing the big piece together!" she whispered in Sora's ear, still hugging him. Sora smiled and hugged her back, feeling her chest pressed against his and their hearts beating together. Yes, he WOULD being together Spira, and Rikku would be by his side.
…and Kairi? His evil inner voice asked.
Kairi has Riku. They've had each other for six years. I can't swoop in and take her. Besides, what I have with Rikku is stronger than anything I've ever felt with Kairi.
…you SAY. Countered the voice.
I do. He shot back.
Rikku looked into Sora's face, worried at his silence.
"Come on Rikku, we need to help people get to the temple.
----
That night, the temple was lit completely and everyone was dancing. There was enough food and drink to keep everyone lively enough to keep the Heartless at bay and to make the fiends move away from the noise. The gates were guarded by a few loners so that the creatures wouldn't destroy their homes.
Sora, a new and exotic boy from a far away place and destroyer of Fiends and Heartless alike, was the center of attention for each female, available and not. Rikku on the other hand, was oogled by every male, young and old, especially when she found a young man with tanned skin and began to dance with him. Sora watched her with a certain fondness.
"Heya, why don'tcha dance?" Rikku asked when Sora led her away from their fan clubs. Sora shrugged and climbed a tree. Rikku followed easily and ended up in front of him. "Something wrong?" she asked, with concern in her deep green swirling eyes. Sora smiled and stood on a sturdy brand and leaned into Rikku.
"No. For the first time in years everything is right." He said, then gently kissed Rikku with the party, pulsing music and light behind them. Nooj watched with interest from his hiding spot.
…so….she fell in love. At least out plans are guaranteed. He thought, then as nimbly as a cat jumping from it's chair, he got out of the tree.
You guys, I love it when you review, but the last few comments were disappointing. I mean, one word comments like "awesome" doesn't tell me what part was awesome! Tell me what you thought was awesome, like….'it was awesome how Sora kicked the shi--- out of Riku' or 'I wonder if Riku lost any teeth' or something stupid that has to do with the story.
/rambling
"Did you know you snore?" she asked with a smile. Sora forced a smile.
"No I didn't." he answered, feeling a bit embarrassed. Rikku giggled.
"Well, I didn't know either. You just sleep like you're in a coma!" she giggled at her little joke on Sora. He managed a smile until he realized that some places on his body hurt.
His smile was gone and he was reminded of the night before.
How could he be so stupid? Letting his emotions carry him away like that?
Well, Riku started it, said his other voice. Riku came up behind you with the intention of hurting you. He always wanted to hurt you and you know it. Always being better…
…But you kissed her, or didn't resist when she kissed you.
"Sora?" Rikku looked into Sora's face worried. He looked at her and realized that during this reverie, she had undone his shirt and was rubbing his chest. He blushed and sat up.
"I'm fine Rikku. I just need some air."
"You better get it quick." She advised. Sora nodded and headed out.
----
The Centigrade Crew left in the afternoon. Some of the islanders were concerned about the fight and wondered if Sora stayed too long, the Heartless would return. Kairi was worried. Until that night, no one had remembered the Heartless had even existed. That full year seemed to be a dream vaguely remembered, but one no one wanted to remember.
The 'old gang' was gathered at the shore, watching the Centigrade Crew disappear aboard the AirShip. Even Riku was there, with his arm in his shirt in such a way that he mimicked Auron, a black eye, and other bruises. Kairi looked at Sora, smiled and waved to him. Sora gave a short wave back, trying not to look at Riku. Kairi still cared for him, even loved him, even though Riku pointed out that Rikku had entered his room that night and only left with him in the morning, but she knew Sora, he wouldn't hurt her.
Not intentionally.
----
The ship was silent. No one asked Sora about the fight, and Sora didn't offer an explanation. Auron disappeared into one of the small bedrooms while Brother manned the ship. Goofy and Donald looked out the windows, hoping to catch a glance of part of their world. Sora looked for Rikku, then realized she was right there, holding his arm and looking into his face worried. Sora smiled and pulled her close. This, he thought, felt more right than anything he had felt with Kairi. Maybe I can be happy…
"Attention KeyBlade Master! We're going to Kilika now. It's another chain of islands, but the last is so big it has a forest and a temple on it!" Brother called back to them in his thick accent. Sora smiled at each r that was pronounced 'hhrrrr' by Brother, and wondered why Rikku lacked the same accent. Then he realized that Cid didn't have the accent at all either.
"Papa wasn't around much when Brother was growing up, so he grew up with Al Bhed. I was stuck on a different world where people spoke both languages." She said quietly so her brother couldn't hear. A fleeting thought came across Sora's mind: why was her brother named Brother? Then he scolded himself for thinking about trivial things and leaned against the inner wall of the Centigrade.
"So, we're going to talk with the elders, or Leaders or whatever and hold a giant conference at the temple?" Sora asked.
"That's the plan." Brother said with a swift nod. Sora allowed a smile. It seemed that he and Brother were getting along, which was good. He and Brother needed all the friends that they could get, since the future wasn't kind nor was it easy.
----
"Here we are!" Rikku said cheerily, towing Sora behind her towards Nooj, who was standing on a boat. Kilika was an odd place—the oddest Sora has ever seen. Most of the houses were on poles in the water, not even on land, and there were walkways a bit above the water and to reach the second level of the villages. The village was split in the middle, so a small boat, like the one Nooj was standing in, could go through the village straight to the clearing that was just before the forest. Sora marveled at how the people gave up living on land and opted for living precariously over water, then wondered why.
A few minutes later after taking the tour of the village, Sora and Rikku accompanied Nooj and the boatman in the small vessel and he brought them through the water with grace and ease, even for an elderly man. Rikku giggled and stuck her finger in the water to trace the paths of various fish. Sora smiled and tried to start up a conversation with Nooj. Nooj's answers were short, curt, and short. Sora privately wondered if he wanted to keep Kilika from joining the rest of the world to reunite Spira.
Sora's thought were interrupted when the boat lightly bumped the 'dock'. Sora got out first and helped Rikku, then he moved to help Nooj. Nooj, the ever obstinate man that he was, shoves away Sora's helping hand and got out of the craft with an ease that surprised everyone. That seemed to inflate his ego as much as a grain of sand adds to the desert.
Men in armor were there to meet them with guns and helmets. They stood at attention and saluted Nooj as he approached the gate that blocked the plains and the forest.
"Master Nooj, the perimeter is secure!" said a man, dressed more formally than the rest. Sora was surpised by these men, who seemed to be barely older than him. The rest of the village seemed laid back, like the Besaid 'Destiny' Islands. Nooj nodded to the men and two led the small group, with two bringing up the rear. Sora felt the KeyBlade amulet under his shirt and wondered if part of Auron's training for him was just ahead.
The walk was uneventful. Just plain grass that was short as if animals had grazed there, and clear view of another island that was too small and not fertile enough to support life. Sora wondered if it were some sort of shrine that could be only visited for special occasions by boat. Sora shook his head of the thought. There weren't enough boats to bring people there for a ceremony, and the boat they had could barely fit four teens, or two teens, a village 'Leader' and their boatman.
By the time they reached the forest, Sora noticed that the older man began to limp. Sora looked at one of the warrior men, then to Nooj. He shrugged, as if to say it was normal for Nojo's artificial leg to start chafing after a walk. Sora pieced that this was why the red clad man had been quiet.
The forest had different paths going in different directions that seemed to be made by the passings of humans and creatures. The trees also lent themselves to the creation of the paths, since each were formed as if they were planted so that they would grow so close together that a person would have to walk through the tree-maze until they found themselves out.
"It is to prevent the temple from rioting villagers. The gate is the first precaution, then the maze. Each part of the maze has it's own gate to keep people out." Nooj explained. "There are also warriors and warrior-monks awaiting us at the temple who also protect the temple." Sora nodded in understanding. "Then there are the beasts." Sora looked at Nooj, who took a right turn along the water. As if on cue, a beautiful reddish-gold tiger with long furry antennae turned from drinking and growled at them. Sora stood, confused at why the men were aiming at the creature.
He shook his head and turned to go another way, even if it was rude, and saw a huge stone wall. His mind screamed that is wasn't a wall, but some sort of fossilized creature that was moving towards the group. It was soon joined by a DarkBall Heartless and some Green Requiems. The tiger-creature, called a Courel, turned it's head from the humans and growled a warning at the Heartless. The Heartless ignored the feline and proceeded to attack the humans. The stone creature was somehow moving slowly towards them, but the warriors were too busy trying to gun down the Requiems to notice. A man closest to the stone creature inhaled deeply, making the man turn. He screamed when he realized what the thing was as it exhaled on him. The scream lingered, making the Heartless pause to try and steal the Heart. The DarkBalls were angry and the Requiems were buzzing around with annoyance. Stone humans have no Hearts to steal. They turned on the stone creature and began to attack.
"Heeee-yah!" Sora turned as he heard Rikku yell out and knock the Courel into the water. She danced and cheered as it struggled to swim, then found shallow water and slunk away. Sora smiled and pulled out the KeyBlade amulet.
"It's time I helped." He said to himself quietly and got in his fighting stance. The stone creature had fallen, and couldn't get up after a DarkBall bounced at it hard enough to topple it over; the Requiems healed each other and looked at the humans again. Sora smiled as he felt the KeyBlade grow in his hand into it's normal size. "Strike raid" he whispered, then threw the KeyBlade at the creatures. The KeyBlade managed to eliminate some Requiems, critically damage a DarkBall, then returned to Sora's hand. Without hearing the men insisting they would help, Sora ran forward and fought the creatures that had no right to be in this world….
…and only stopped when Rikku placed a cool hand on his shoulder. Sora suddenly realized that the Heartless were pouring in after them, and Nooj was nearly a sitting duck with his Machina leg.
"I'll distract them and you get him out of here. One you are safe, call for me and I'll come."
"It's supposed to go 'if you're in danger, call me and I'll come running'." Rikku said, trying to not sound worried. Sora smiled at her and lunged into the fight. Nooj watched for a moment, interested as Sora fought the Heartless that appeared around him from thin air, then allowed himself to be ushered towards the temple.
He didn't know how long he fought, but by the time he was aware that Rikku was safe, he backed away from his attackers. He grinned while he ran from the confused Heartless. Fighting them in an enclosed space with his old weapon helped his muscles loosen up and made him feel able, energized and ready to tackle any problem.
"He makes it look like a game." A warrior muttered to his companion as he and a team ran down the temple steps to help Sora. Sora was currently fighting a soldier like he was fighting someone in a training room. He dodged, parried, sidestepped and attacked as if he were against his best friend. Oddly enough, human and Heartless seemed to enjoy this exchange. The Soldier Heartless stopped when it heard the Warriors arrive, then tilted it's head at Sora as if to say 'it was fun', then disappeared in a cloud of nothingness. The rest of the Heartless paused, then began to attack the humans after just merely watching the exchange between the Heartless and boy.
Giddy and winded, Sora rejoined Rikku and Nooj at the temple, and bowed to the priests around them.
"Just some Soldiers, DarkBalls and Requiems." Sora said, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"Just?" there was a murmur from the priest-audience.
"Those are the creatures that have killed two of my teams escorting the priests to their temple home. It seems only your weapon has any effect against them." Nooj said harshly. "Probably anyone with your weapon could fight the Heartless. What makes the KeyBlade exclusive to you?" Nooj asked, taking the KeyBlade from Sora's hand. Almost immediately, it disappeared from Nooj's hold and returned itself into Sora's hand.
"It chooses me." He said. "And it can change its mind. It has once, then it came back to me." Nooj and the priests merely stared at Sora. "I have the strength enough to fight the Heartless, and I believe I have the strength to reunite Spira." Nooj looked as if Sora said the key phrase. He turned to the monks and warriors.
"Prepare the festivities; our world will be whole again!" Nooj's voice was loud, deep and powerful. Although he was solemn, he managed to excite young priests and priestesses and warriors. The priests merely smiled and nodded. Rikku ran to Sora and collided into him with a hug.
"It was so easy! Now all the islands are together and we can start bringing the big piece together!" she whispered in Sora's ear, still hugging him. Sora smiled and hugged her back, feeling her chest pressed against his and their hearts beating together. Yes, he WOULD being together Spira, and Rikku would be by his side.
…and Kairi? His evil inner voice asked.
Kairi has Riku. They've had each other for six years. I can't swoop in and take her. Besides, what I have with Rikku is stronger than anything I've ever felt with Kairi.
…you SAY. Countered the voice.
I do. He shot back.
Rikku looked into Sora's face, worried at his silence.
"Come on Rikku, we need to help people get to the temple.
----
That night, the temple was lit completely and everyone was dancing. There was enough food and drink to keep everyone lively enough to keep the Heartless at bay and to make the fiends move away from the noise. The gates were guarded by a few loners so that the creatures wouldn't destroy their homes.
Sora, a new and exotic boy from a far away place and destroyer of Fiends and Heartless alike, was the center of attention for each female, available and not. Rikku on the other hand, was oogled by every male, young and old, especially when she found a young man with tanned skin and began to dance with him. Sora watched her with a certain fondness.
"Heya, why don'tcha dance?" Rikku asked when Sora led her away from their fan clubs. Sora shrugged and climbed a tree. Rikku followed easily and ended up in front of him. "Something wrong?" she asked, with concern in her deep green swirling eyes. Sora smiled and stood on a sturdy brand and leaned into Rikku.
"No. For the first time in years everything is right." He said, then gently kissed Rikku with the party, pulsing music and light behind them. Nooj watched with interest from his hiding spot.
…so….she fell in love. At least out plans are guaranteed. He thought, then as nimbly as a cat jumping from it's chair, he got out of the tree.
You guys, I love it when you review, but the last few comments were disappointing. I mean, one word comments like "awesome" doesn't tell me what part was awesome! Tell me what you thought was awesome, like….'it was awesome how Sora kicked the shi--- out of Riku' or 'I wonder if Riku lost any teeth' or something stupid that has to do with the story.
/rambling